Why Do I Need a Surgical Extraction?
In an ideal world, we would be able to keep all of our natural teeth forever. Unfortunately, sometimes having a tooth extracted is the only way to rid infection and keep your mouth healthy. In the event that you have severe decay or have broken a tooth, it may be considered non-restorable and the only option is extraction.
What is a surgical extraction?
Surgical extraction just means that the tooth is impacted and has not pushed through the gum tissue and an incision will be necessary. A tooth can be impacted just under the gum tissue or it can be impacted within the jaw, both of which would require surgical extraction. If the tooth is impacted within the jawbone, a small piece of bone will also need to be removed for your doctor to access the tooth.
When the tooth is visible above the gum tissue, a simple extraction is performed since the tooth can typically be loosened and lifted out of the socket without incisions and sutures.
Why do I need a surgical extraction?
There are several reasons you may need to have a tooth surgically extracted. One of the more common surgical extractions is having your wisdom teeth removed. Most patients do not have enough room in their mouth to allow wisdom teeth to properly push through the gum tissue and sit in alignment with the rest of the teeth so they usually need to come out. They are also often removed in anticipation of orthodontic treatment when there is not enough room for the teeth to be turned and shifted into proper alignment.
A tooth may also need to be extracted due to severe decay or bone loss, or even trauma to the mouth. When a tooth has extensive decay, it is often too weak to be removed using a simple extraction technique and instead needs to be surgically removed from the socket. Additionally, gum disease can lead to a dental abscess and when other treatments fail, such as draining the abscess or a root canal therapy, the tooth may need to be extracted. Extracting a tooth in the case of periodontal disease is an effort to avoid the spread of infection and keep surrounding teeth healthy.
Trauma to the mouth can cause a tooth to become loose and if there is no hope of the area being restored so that the tooth sits securely in the socket, your dentist may recommend extraction for that as well.
If you have to have a tooth surgically extracted, the doctor will discuss anesthesia options and review postoperative instructions with you. Most of the time, a surgical extraction can be performed under local anesthesia and does not require you to be asleep.
It is perfectly normal to experience minor pain along with bleeding and swelling after a surgical extraction. Your dentist will prescribe pain medication and antibiotics to prevent infection. After a few days, pain should be manageable with over-the-counter medication.
If you believe you need to have a tooth extracted, speak with your dentist to understand your options so that together, you can determine the best treatment path for you.